Capitol Riot

DC Roads, Bridges, Metro Stations Closed Ahead of Inauguration

A number of bridges that cross the Potomac River and Anacostia River will be closed, as well as several Metro stations

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The U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies dramatically expanded on Sunday the area of Washington, D.C., that will be restricted for drivers until after the presidential inauguration. 

Major shutdowns of bridges and Metro stations also will be in effect.

With restrictions effective immediately, the vehicle restricted area now spans as far north as Dupont Circle, as far east as Sixth Street NE, as far south as the Southeast/Southwest Freeway and as far west as the Potomac River. A smaller area will be completely closed to vehicles. 

See the map below for details. A number of public access points are indicated in yellow on the Secret Service map. Go here to see a larger version.

U.S. Secret Service issued this public access map on Jan. 17.

A smaller area previously was closed to drivers near the White House, U.S. Capitol and National Mall amid potential security threats in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. 

The D.C. road restrictions and closures will remain in place until after the inauguration, the Secret Service said. 

Officials warn that changes to road closures may be made if conditions warrant. 

Armed troops, razor wire and unscaleable fences surround the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, and bridge access to D.C. is cut off as of Tuesday morning. News4's Shomari Stone has a look at the historic security measures in place for the 59th inauguration.

Bridges to Be Closed Over Anacostia, Potomac Rivers

A number of bridges that cross the Potomac River and Anacostia River will be closed, shut down lanes or change traffic patterns. If you have to travel between D.C. and Virginia, or between Ward 7 or Ward 8 and the remainder of the city, make plans now. The bridge closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Thursday, the Secret Service said.

Outbound traffic will see less of an impact.

Here’s full info on which bridges will close and when: 

14th Street Non-HOV Bridge – Remains open to all traffic until Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 6 a.m. All traffic diverted to I-395.

14th Street Bridge HOV (North and South) – Remains open to all traffic until Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m. Southbound traffic leaving the city will flow normally.

Theodore Roosevelt Bridge – Remains open to all traffic until Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m. Following closure, westbound traffic will remain open. Traffic will be diverted north on Potomac Freeway.

Arlington Memorial Bridge – All access is closed Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m.

Key Bridge – Remains open until Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m. Following closure, no access to Whitehurst Freeway and no right turn will be permitted on M St. All traffic must turn left on Canal St.

Photos: Tensions Run High as DC Increases Security Ahead of the Inauguration

Chain Bridge – Open to all traffic.

South Capitol Street Bridge on the I-295 side – Remains open to all traffic until Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m. Following closure, northbound traffic will be closed and southbound traffic will remain open.

Southeast/Southwest Freeway – Closed.

Potomac River Parkway – Open Northbound, closed Southbound from Jan. 16 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m. Access to Theodore Roosevelt Bridge remains open.

Rock Creek Parkway at Ohio Drive – Closed.

11th Street Bridges – Remain open to all traffic until Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m. Following closure, northbound traffic will be closed and southbound traffic will remain open.

695 Bridge/Southeast Freeway – Remains open to all traffic until Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m. Southbound traffic out of the city will flow normally.

Sousa Bridge – Remains open to all traffic until Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m. Following closure, northbound traffic will be closed and southbound traffic will remain open.

3rd Street Tunnel – Remains open with all exits closed. The tunnel will close Jan. 19 at 6 a.m. through Jan. 21 at 6 a.m.

9th Street Tunnel – Closed to all traffic.

12th Street Tunnel – Closed to all traffic.

E Street Tunnel – Closed from Potomac River Freeway northbound and southbound.

Independence Ave/Maine Ave from 12th Street, SW to Memorial Bridge – Closed to all traffic.

Any cars that are still in parking garages in the restricted area cannot be moved until after the inauguration. 

The restrictions apply to residential and commercial buildings. Business deliveries must receive special screening at an off-site facility.

Four bridges between Virginia and D.C. will be closed for the inauguration. Jackie Bensen reports.

Amtrak Cancels Trains in Virginia Ahead of Inauguration

Amtrak announced all Northeast Regional trains south of Washington D.C, which includes all stations in Virginia, will be canceled Tuesday and Wednesday amid heightened security concerns following the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Amtrak auto train services will be unaffected but The Carolinian, a daily train that runs between Charlotte, North Carolina to New York City, will only operate between Raleigh and Charlotte, the company said Saturday in a news release.

“After last week’s violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, we are taking extra steps to continue ensuring the safety of our employees and customers in Washington DC and across our network as we prepare for the Inauguration,” the statement said.

Metro Closures and Service Plans

Metro announced Wednesday that it would close 13 stations inside the security perimeter through Jan. 21.

The following stations are closed:

  • Red Line stations closed: Farragut North, Judiciary Square, Union Station
  • Yellow/Green Line station closed: Archives
  • Blue Line station closed: Arlington Cemetery
  • Blue Line, Orange Line and Silver Line stations closed: Farragut West McPherson Square, Federal Center SW, Capitol South, Smithsonian, Federal Triangle

The following stations will remain closed until Jan. 21:

  • Metro Center
  • Gallery Place

The Pentagon Station will be closed on Inauguration Day only.

Metro is planning a massive station shutdown ahead of the inauguration. Beginning Friday, over a dozen stations will start to close downtown. Transportation Reporter Adam Tuss has a message from Metro’s leader about what you should not be doing over the next week.

Trains will pass through the affected stations without stopping.

"Trains will operate on a Saturday schedule (every 12 minutes on the Red Line/15 minutes on all other lines)," Metro said.

In addition, 26 bus routes will be detoured around the expanded security perimeter through Jan. 21.

Metrobus will operate normal service on weekdays and weekends to accommodate customers making trips outside the security zone, with the exception of Jan. 20, when buses will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Pentagon Transit Center will be closed, and buses will be relocated to the east side of Pentagon City at Hayes Street S. and 12th Street S.

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